Janina Scarlet

Janina Scarlet is a Ukrainian-born American author and clinical psychologist. She is known for utilizing popular culture references in treating patients.

Early and personal life Scarlet was born and raised in Ukraine to a Jewish family. Scarlet and her family endured the Chernobyl disaster. As a child, she underwent severe radiation poisoning due to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which lead to her experiencing severe migraines and seizures.

Scarlet was 12 years old when she arrived to the United States. She did not speak English at first and struggled with PTSD. She was also bullied for her origins; for instance, she was taunted as radioactive. A few years later, after watching X-Men, she resonated with its character Storm. She was inspired by Storm's similar origins that rather strengthened her as an individual, and it prompted her to reframe her story—from a victim to a survivor. She decided to study psychology to be able to help others who struggled with their past too.

She treated active duty Marines with PTSD via her work at the Veterans Medical Research Center.

Scarlet has been featured as a character in the comic book Seven Days by Gail Simone.

Scarlet worked as a mental health consultant on the fourth season of the HBO Max animated show Young Justice, and was interviewed for Marvel's MPower.

Superhero therapy

Scarlet developed superhero therapy; it is a clinical method of using heroes or popular culture figures and incorporating them into evidence-based therapies to reshape narratives, build rapport, and manage an array of psychological issues. It combines elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. While it is frequently used for treating younger patients, it is as applicable to adults as Superhero Therapy may use personal and nonfictional characters as well.

Works The Walking Dead Psychology: Psych of the Living Dead (2015) Star Wars Psychology: Dark Side of the Mind (2015) Game of Thrones Psychology: The Mind is Dark and Full of Terrors (2016) Doctor Who Psychology: A Madman with a Box (2016) Captain America vs Iron Man Psychology (2016) Supernatural Psychology: Roads Less Traveled (2017) Wonder Woman Psychology: Lassoing the Truth (2017) Superhero Therapy: Mindfulness Skills to Help Teens and Young Adults Deal with Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma (2017) Harry Potter Therapy: An Unauthorized Self-Help Book from the Restricted Section (2017) Star Trek Psychology: The Mental Frontier (2017) Therapy Quest: An Interactive Journey Through Acceptance And Commitment Therapy (2018) Westworld Psychology (2018) Daredevil Psychology (2018) Black Panther Psychology (2019) Using Superheroes and Villains in Counseling and Play Therapy (2019) Super-Kids (2019) Violet and the Trial of Trauma (Dark Agents #1) (2020) Supernatural Therapy (2020) Super-Women (2020) Super Survivors (2021) It Shouldn't Be This Way: Learning to Accept the Things You Just Can't Change (2021) Superhero Therapy for Anxiety and Trauma (2021) Spider-Man Psychology (2023) Stranger Things Psychology (2023) Unseen, Unheard, Undervalued: Managing Loneliness, Loss of Connection and Not Fitting In (2023) Hunger Action Heroes Unite (2024) Through Bullets and Thunderstorms: A Holocaust Survival Pact (2025) The Villains Club: A Delightfully Devious Anthology (2026)